Great app, use it every night
I love the Calm app! I stumbled upon a television commercial about it a few years ago and decided to give it a try. I have had trouble falling asleep for years, and was honestly skeptical that an app would put me to sleep. Boy was I wrong! I love the different options - sleep stories, music, meditation - each one is interesting, and while I can’t say I’ve managed to get to end of a story…well that’s the point. I’m out within five minutes. I’ve read some reviews about the expense - here’s the thing - what is your sleep and a relaxed mindset worth to you? Divide that annual cost by 365 and you’re paying a pittance for your health. Check back around the holidays - the makers of Calm run specials sometimes that make it even more worthwhile. I had just renewed my annual fee two summers ago, when an end of year special came around. It was a lifetime subscription that was going to save hundreds of dollars over the years. I knew I wouldn’t get the remainder of my annual fee (8 months left) refunded if I jumped on the lifetime subscription, but it was still worth the jump. This is a must have app.
*App makers - please put the sleep check-in back! With the latest update it is gone, and it was something that really helped understanding factors that affect sleep.
*App makers - please put the sleep check-in back! With the latest update it is gone, and it was something that really helped understanding factors that affect sleep.
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Response from developer
Thanks for the wonderful review! And, fear not, Sleep Check-ins are still available ;) On your Calm app's home screen, scroll down to the "Quick & Easy" section. Then, scroll through the options to the right until you find "How did you sleep?" If you have any further trouble getting to your Sleep Check-ins, please reach out to our support team at www.calm.com/contact - they'd be happy to help you out!
I really wanted to love this, but
Two major concerns. First of all, I judge how sincere an app like this is about helping people by the availability of free content. I understand that it takes resources to produce content of this quality, but this app verges on hostile towards the non-paying user, and some people just can’t afford to pay. I saw someone saying that the master classes were available, so I looked into that - um, no. It’s the *trailers* that are available, and this sort of bait-and-switch is typical of the non-paying experience in this app.
Second, I have chronic pain, and there isn’t any content that comes up when I search for that - there apparently isn’t anything health-related at all. The one free guided meditation I found started triggering panic as it made me more aware of my pain, and I had to stop.
The upshot is that this app seems targeted towards a “beautiful person” demographic whose problems really will all go away if they start meditating. The series by Lama Rod Owens seems like a step in the right direction, but it’s going to take a complete reevaluation of the goals and design to really address the problem. Right now, if you’re disabled, broke, aging ungracefully, traumatized, or whatever, this app will constantly remind you that you don’t belong in the “Calm” space.
Second, I have chronic pain, and there isn’t any content that comes up when I search for that - there apparently isn’t anything health-related at all. The one free guided meditation I found started triggering panic as it made me more aware of my pain, and I had to stop.
The upshot is that this app seems targeted towards a “beautiful person” demographic whose problems really will all go away if they start meditating. The series by Lama Rod Owens seems like a step in the right direction, but it’s going to take a complete reevaluation of the goals and design to really address the problem. Right now, if you’re disabled, broke, aging ungracefully, traumatized, or whatever, this app will constantly remind you that you don’t belong in the “Calm” space.
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Great for little children
My daughter is 4 and has found it difficult to get to sleep for last 2-3 years. Someone recommended this app and initially I wasn’t certain but now it’s used nightly. She finds shishi calming, loves Kate (Winslett) and told me the other day that she’d listened to the pillow thief 50 times. Thank you for helping my active daughter relax long may it continue.
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Deceptive subscription deletion
I am trying to unsubscribe from this app and I keep getting sent to Apple and then back to Calm. There is no option for subscription cancellation in any of the pages that I keep getting sent to.
One should be allowed to cancel a subscription in ones personal app profile in Apple subscriptions found in Settings but there is no option anywhere for this app (note: all other apps have the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option).
I then tried the Apple App option to unsubscribe and again no ‘Cancel Subscription ’ option for this app ( again...all other apps had the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option).
I then went through the Apple ‘ how to subscribe option and it sent me back to the same pages. Soooo frustrating!
I then went through the Calm website. The same NO CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION option! ARGGGG!
It is very deceptive and although I really like the app and was initially just checking out my cancellation options, the fact that there is no option to unsubscribe makes me want to completely delete this app and never use it again! Now I am super annoyed!
Badly done and is counterproductive to the image of calmness you create with this app. Very disappointed and extremely frustrated that I have no way of unsubscribing!
Make the CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION option available in the settings function!
One should be allowed to cancel a subscription in ones personal app profile in Apple subscriptions found in Settings but there is no option anywhere for this app (note: all other apps have the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option).
I then tried the Apple App option to unsubscribe and again no ‘Cancel Subscription ’ option for this app ( again...all other apps had the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option).
I then went through the Apple ‘ how to subscribe option and it sent me back to the same pages. Soooo frustrating!
I then went through the Calm website. The same NO CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION option! ARGGGG!
It is very deceptive and although I really like the app and was initially just checking out my cancellation options, the fact that there is no option to unsubscribe makes me want to completely delete this app and never use it again! Now I am super annoyed!
Badly done and is counterproductive to the image of calmness you create with this app. Very disappointed and extremely frustrated that I have no way of unsubscribing!
Make the CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION option available in the settings function!
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Love the app just one recommendation!
There’s so much to this app there’s bed time stories, breathing exercises, music, sessions to help relax, meditate, and help u sleep, there’s also (one of my favorites) where u can have a calming background when on or off your phone, they have quotes to help motivate you, there’s daily check in’s you can do, you can set timers and reminders for things and so much more! There is a free app trial but you do have to pay after the trial ends but I think in my opinion it’s worth buying the app! My one recommendation though is that I think the calm app should add some more journaling to the app something more than the check ins because I think journaling is a great way to help you feel your releasing your past or just writing how happy you are if that makes sense plus if it’s not to much maybe add something to remind you to get off your phone and go outside or do some focusing hour on school work or something like that. Overall the calm app is a great app and I totally recommend if you have anxiety, or are having trouble sleeping!
-if your reading this have a good day/night/rest of your day/night!
-if your reading this have a good day/night/rest of your day/night!
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App is in accessible for blind user, buttons unlabeled
Hello, I really like the content on your app and it has really helped me to develop my practice. However because of the issues described in the title I probably will no longer subscribe to calm next year. I am blind, and use the screen reader voiceover. I can play the videos for the content well enough with play pause, fastforward but the biggest barrier I am facing is that the mountains which you tap on in the for you tab to bring up the settings are unlabeled. I was trying to turn off the babbling Brook sound, accessible apps need to have text labels to accompany any clickable items. I would love to resubscribe once you have resolved these issues, buttons for the mood check-in feature are also unlabeled or nonexistent. The box breathing technique does not speak anything aloud or refresh on its own. A better way to accomplish that might be to use a metronome with 44 times signature. I am happy to speak to a developer more about my feedback and suggestions for how to resolve these issues, but I think that especially since healthcare providers are starting to recommend your service to their users, many of them who use Medicaid and Medicare and are disabled the app absolutely should be more accessible. Thank you for your timely consideration and namaste. I look forward to working with you in making the meditation community more inclusive.
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The usual trial trick
Is Calm any good? Maybe. But how to find out? The amount of free content to test it out is absolutely TINY and actually finding out what’s available is made as difficult as possible. You’ll just see padlock symbols everywhere.
Because they’re trying to push you into the 7-day “free trial”. But yes, it’s one of those “trials” where, if you neglect to do anything (and from the website, you’ll need to react in 6 days not 7), it will automatically roll over into a free subscription.
It’s just amazing how many companies seem to think this sort of tactic is ethically justifiable. I’m not remotely against trial periods, but a far better approach is to prompt you at the end of the trial that you need to pay to continue, NOT rely on your inertia or forgetfulness. As things stand, though, this is just another company trying to push me towards buying a product without letting me get a good look at what’s on offer. And that’s just a turn-off.
Because they’re trying to push you into the 7-day “free trial”. But yes, it’s one of those “trials” where, if you neglect to do anything (and from the website, you’ll need to react in 6 days not 7), it will automatically roll over into a free subscription.
It’s just amazing how many companies seem to think this sort of tactic is ethically justifiable. I’m not remotely against trial periods, but a far better approach is to prompt you at the end of the trial that you need to pay to continue, NOT rely on your inertia or forgetfulness. As things stand, though, this is just another company trying to push me towards buying a product without letting me get a good look at what’s on offer. And that’s just a turn-off.
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My opinion about the calm app.
Dear-Publisher,I have had this app for year and I love it so much, it helps me a lot but I deleted the app and downloaded it back and I’m glad I did. I know you may not have the some opinion as me but I think this app is outstanding. If the creator or person that published this app sees this, I just wanna tell how thankful I am that you made this all because it helps a lot. I know that some of the stories cost money but it’s still worth downloading the app. I recommend listening to “sleep paws” and “the secret lagoon” they are both amazing bedtime stories for all ages! There is no age policy for this app if you ask me I just think that there is only one thing that could make the app better which is making the stories a lower price or just making it cost 0 dollars itself because some of the stories look very interesting but I cannot read them because I have to do a trial and that’s the reason why umm giving this app 4 starts! So if the person who published this app sees this review I just wanna say thanks for making my life so much more easier but please Mack some of the stories more reasonable of price because I have read all of the stories which are the ones that don’t cost money.
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I love this app
After using this app for two years I decided to leave a review. This is my go to app when I cannot sleep. No I don’t use it religiously every night but when I have my insomnia moments (and I don’t want to over use my sleeping tablets) I put on a sleep story and I’ve never heard the end of one yet. I like the meditation side as well and don’t use it as much as I should lots of options of voices, guided and unguided and themes. I have been paying for the app for maybe two years and used it free before but enjoyed it so much I bought it which I never do. I’ve recommended it to my mum as well. I find i use it more often in times of need such as stress, anxiety or insomnia and it has always helped me. I absolutely love Tamara’s voice she’s my go to. There’s so many voices but my negative part is I wish there was more of her sleep stories as I listen to the same 4/5 over and over. Also has ASMR if you’re into that. Very good for your mental well-being and it’s easy to use and navigate in the app. Daily mood check ins and now self reflection which is nice to look back on.
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Anxiety inducing - overpriced
I am trying to get support and help where I can to reduce my anxiety when I'm trying to sleep at night as I get these unbearable heart palpitations that leave me with insomnia. I decided to try this app out of desperation.
Unfortunately, everything that would've been of any use to me personally is locked off completely. My entire "for you" page is premium only options, reminding me that I can't afford such 'luxuries' as a good night's sleep. This is thieving from very vulnerable people who need all the help they can get. Frankly, I find this incredibly disturbing and the matter has stressed me out which, naturally, won't help me get any sleep at all. If you have any empathy for people who require your services, you'll reduce prices and give more options and accessibility to people who cannot afford to subscribe to you.
If others such as my self want some advice, try looking for some meditations on youtube or spotify. Don't waste your money or time on these greedy people, they do not care about your health.
Unfortunately, everything that would've been of any use to me personally is locked off completely. My entire "for you" page is premium only options, reminding me that I can't afford such 'luxuries' as a good night's sleep. This is thieving from very vulnerable people who need all the help they can get. Frankly, I find this incredibly disturbing and the matter has stressed me out which, naturally, won't help me get any sleep at all. If you have any empathy for people who require your services, you'll reduce prices and give more options and accessibility to people who cannot afford to subscribe to you.
If others such as my self want some advice, try looking for some meditations on youtube or spotify. Don't waste your money or time on these greedy people, they do not care about your health.
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